Virginia A. Smith

Inquirer Staff Writer

We did just do that but there are two more shows to see, smaller in scope but timed perfectly to counteract the effects of a nasty winter. Been outside today? I thought we were done with this.

Macy's show runs through Sunday, in the grand court (eagle territory - that's eagle, the landmark sculpture, not Eagles) of the flagship store on Market Street. There's a lady in red, a "bouquet of the day" interestingly arranged by Jamie Rothstein (giant blue paper poppies), and displays with color and scent. And I mean it. The hyacinths may have been wan at the Philadelphia Flower Show but they're in high gear at Macy's, which is smart enough to position the floral displays in the midst of women's shoes, jewelry and pocketbooks. (25 percent off Coach bags, ladies).

Among the visitors this afternoon were quite a few tourists, office workers on their lunch breaks, and moms and daughters shopping. I spoke with Billy McKee, from East Anglia in the UK, accompanying his wife, who is attending the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. He liked the show, especially the soaring ceiling height in the grand court, but what he really wanted to talk about was Philadelphia.

"This town doesn't sell itself enough," he said, to which I wanted to reply, gee, that's funny, since - as my Inquirer colleague Chris Hepp reported recently - the city has two marketing agencies, websites, slogans, chief execs, finance officers and marketing staffs, all taxpayer supported.

Philadelphia "has a lot of stuff in a very small space. Everything's walkable. And this place has got the history. It's all here but it needs a bit of a push to market itself," McKee says, which prompts a random conversation about what we're known for - cheese steaks, Rocky, blah, blah, blah. (Pity. Nobody mentioned the Barnes or Marc Vetri or even the Phillie Phanatic.)

Macy's could do with some help from the city's tourism marketing bench. Walk into the store from Market Street and you'll have to ask where the flower show is. At least the greeter knew there was a flower show. "Straight ahead and turn right," he said. No sign at the turn either.

Anyway, the show's fun. I'll post some pictures.

And, by the way, there's another flower show at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 118 North Broad St. - "PAFA in Bloom" - tomorrow through Sunday, 45 floral designers from around the country (some international), 15 garden clubs represented, programs, workshops.